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Brazilian legend: "I would still be the best"

Brazilian legend Pele believes that he would still be the best in the world if he still played today despite the game changing so much over time.

Pele is seen by many as the greatest footballer to have played the game and he is still the only player to have won three World Cup's, but with the game changing so much over time some would say the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best players to have played the game.

But not in Pele's eyes, as the all-time leading Brazilian goalscorer feels that he would still be top of the pile if he played in today's game.

He would have to be compared more to Messi than Ronaldo, as his short, agile play style often left defenders for dead.

His acceleration off the mark and ability to find space in between defenders saw Pele score countless goals throughout his career, and if he were to play in the modern game, there is no reason why he couldn't do so in terms of ability and playing style.

His issue would be his fitness, but with the right training and access to all of today's advancements in the game, Pele could very well be the best.

"If I played now, I'd have to be as physically fit as they are [today's footballers], but I'd still be the best," he said.

"The reason is that God would have given me that gift."

"It's as if you were to ask Beethoven what type of music he'd compose in another era."

"Whatever music he did compose, he would do so with the same genius, but with other tools."

Pele scored 77 goals in 92 matches for Brazil, and is thought to have scored a staggering total of 1283 goals in his career.

He travelled to his first World Cup at just 17, and scored six goals, including a hat-trick against France, to help his side win the tournament and explains that the lack of responsibility helped him in his early days.

"In 1958 I was just 17 years old and just wanted to play. I also didn't feel I had much responsibility, those that had the experience were in charge."

The football legend scored 12 goals and got 10 assists in his 14 World Cup appearances, and is one of just two players to have ever scored a four separate World Cup finals, joined by German Uwe Seeler.

Louis East

Louis is a 20 year-old aspiring sports journalist with huge interest in football and American football, based in Kent. He has experience writing for various blogs and loves to discuss and debate sporting matters.